Toy instrument panel for cycle handle bars



L. COATES 2,775,845

TOY INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR CYCLE HANDLE BARS Jan. 1, 1957 Filed April 21.1954 ms ATTORNEYS O W K.

United States Patent TOY INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR CYCLE HANDLE BARS LeroyCoates, Covington, Ky. Application April 21, 1954, Serial No. 424,551 1Claim. (Cl. 461) This invention relates to a toy instrument panel forcycle handle bars, and it particularly pertains to one which is simplein construction and especially adapted for young children both as aneducational and amusement tOY.

Toys of this general type have been made, but, heretofore, they havebeen of complicated construction, cumbersome and have not been suitablefor use with a conventional toy vehicle such as a cycle.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the inven tion is a toyinstrument panel for cycle bars which is simple in construction, simplein operation and composed of a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is a toy instrument panel for cycle barswhich is readily detachably mounted upon the cycle bars.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction andassembly, will readily appear from the detailed description to follow.In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by thedevice and means set forth in the following specification. My inventionis clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claim. A structureconstituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying my inventionand showing a portion of the cycle.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation, from the right end of the device.

Generally described the device comprises a plate of arcuate conformationon its upper edge and provided with cycle handle bar clamps on itsbottom edge. The front side of the plate is provided with indiciasimulating a conventional motor vehicle instrument panel. There is ahandle pivoted to the back of the plate with one end projecting formanually moving it and an indicator fixed thereto. Stop means also areprovided on the plate, cooperating with the indicator, for holding thehandle and indicator in any of several selected adjusted positions.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which like numerals designatelike parts, numeral 2 refers generally to a plate preferably made ofsheet metal or molded resin plastic. The top edge 3 of the plate is ofarcuate configuration with a plurality of embossments 4 stampedtherefrom to project from the rear side. These embossments are arrangedin pairs spaced apart to be radially aligned with the letters R, N and Fon the front side of the plate, these letters respectively referring toreverse, neutral and forward.

Pivoted to the rear of the plate by pivot bolt 5 and clamp nut 6 is alever 7 terminating in handle 8 that projects beyond the top arcuateedge of the plate, the handle being a conventional rubber thimbleslipped over the end of the lever. The opposite end of the lever is bentat an angle to provide an arm 9 terminating in an indicator 10 bent tooverhang the front top margin of the plate to be selectively alignedwith one of the letters R, N and F when the lever is manually moved inany selected position. The lever has sufiicient play for ice the arm 9to ride over the embossments 4 and yet be held normally between any oneof the pairs to register the indicator with the respective indicialetters.

The bottom end of the plate is provided with a pair of cycle bar clamps,each formed by a projecting strip 11 bent in the form of a semi-circle.The free end of the strip and the plate are perforated to receive clampbolts 12. A pad 13, with its side edges 14 engaging the opposite sideedge 5 of the strip 11, is mounted on the strip to be interposed betweenit and the cycle bars.

There is the graduated scale 10 to to simulate speedometer indicia, and,associated with this is an indicator 15 that is snugly mounted on thepivot bolt 5 for free relative movement. This indicator can be manuallymoved to any selected point or position. Other conventional parts of amotor vehicle instrument panel are simulated, such as the mileage meter16, push buttons for the starter S, choke C and lights L, together withtemperature, fuel, oil and ammeter dials. The indicia may be formed onthe plate or may be printed on a strip, such as a decalcomania, appliedto the plate.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent that the devicecan be readily mounted upon the cycle handle bars in a position in frontof the driver so as to be easily seen. The hand lever is manuallyoperated as is the indicator for the speedometer, and is retained in anyadjusted position.

I am aware that there may be various changes in details of constructionwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, Iclaim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

A simulated motor vehicle instrument panel for cycle bars comprising aplate having gear shift and speedometer indicia upon the front side,said plate having an arcuate top edge, a lever pivoted to the rear ofthe plate and extending beyond the arcuate top edge thereof to provide amanually shiftable handle, an indicator means for the gear shiftindicia, another indicator for the speedometer indicia, the speedometerindicator being mounted on a common pivot with the lever and having freeindependent movement and the gear shift indicator being fixed to thelever and movable therewith, said gear shift indicator being visible atthe front of said plate in cooperative relation to said gear shiftindicia, and rearwardly projecting embossment means stamped from theplate for cooperating with the gear shift lever to hold it and the gearshift indicator in adjusted position, said lever having an offsetportion at the free end thereof to clear the embossment means in itspivotal movement relatively to the plate and cycle bar clamp means onthe plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,259,867 Humphreys Mar. 19, 1918 1,486,568 Debs Mar. 11, 1924 2,168,939Kraeft Aug. 8, 1939 2,332,216 Gold Oct. 19, 1943 2,454,693 Foster Nov.23, 1948 2,578,682 Fernstrom Dec. 18, 1951 2,581,976 Solomon Jan. 8,1952 2,684,243 Alston July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 419,305 GreatBritain Nov. 9, 1934 501,460 Belgium Mar. 15, 1951 OTHER REFERENCESPlaythings Magazine for March, 1948, page 267.

